Roberta twisted her kapp string around her finger as she now stood near the barn and watched Sammy and her bruder part ways. Neither of them seemed happy. Did they have a falling-out about something?
She trained her eyes on Sammy as he marched toward his buggy out in the field. Ach, nee! He couldn’t be leaving yet. Tears welled in her eyes unbidden. She’d so hoped that he’d have a gut time amongst their people tonight.
Was he leaving to go see his Englisch schatzi? She prayed not. She’d hoped his infatuation with the Englisch maedel would fade, but with each month he’d stayed away from the gatherings, Roberta’s hope sunk lower.
Maybe she could convince him to stay instead. It wasn’t proper for her to approach him, so she hung back to determine exactly what he’d do. If he went for his horse, she’d gather her courage and seek him out.
But instead of leaving, Sammy reached into the carriage and brought out what appeared to be a paper bag. She couldn’t be sure, but it looked to be one of the bags from the feedstore.
When he turned around, she couldn’t conceal herself fast enough. Ach, what would he think if he caught her spying on him?
“Roberta,” Sammy called out.
She hesitantly stepped forward.
“Just the person I wanted to see.” A gorgeous smile spread across his face and his eyes sparkled. It was breathtaking, really.
“You wanted to see me?” What had she done to garner Sammy’s attention?
“I brought something.” He reached into the bag. “I thought maybe your pup might like this.” He pulled out a twisted rope with knots on each end.
“Ach, you got something for my dog?” She’s always believed Sammy was a sweetheart. Now she knew for sure and certain.
“Do you like it?”
“It’s wunderbaar, Sammy. Denki.”
His grin expanded at her words. “Where is he? Let’s see how he takes to it.”
“We keep him on the other side of the house, so he’s not in the way.” She walked in that direction, thankful for the dog’s location—away from the house, barn, and volleyball nets where everyone was now congregating.
Sammy ducked under the empty clothesline.
“I did what you said. Put him out in the open so he couldn’t get himself all tangled up.”
“I see you put him close enough to the tree so he can have some shade. Gut idea. I should have mentioned that.” He squatted down to pet the dog, then offered the chew toy.
She shrugged. “Well, he does have shade in his doghouse too.”
Sammy eyed the doghouse. “Looks like it’s seen better days. But I guess it’s something.”
“Jah. Glen pulled it out of the barn loft. I think it must’ve belonged to the previous owners.”
He frowned at the mention of her bruder.
“I know it’s none of my business, but did you and Glen have a falling-out?” She shook her head. She was much too curious for her own good. “You don’t have to answer.”
“It’s okay. And jah, we did. But I won’t say any more about it until your bruder…” His voice trailed off. “Like I mentioned before, it’s not really my place to tell. I mean, it is, partly. But I can’t tell my part until he’s honest and upfront about his. Understand?”
She scrunched up her nose. “Not really.”
“I reckon you’ll find out soon enough.”
Roberta frowned, then opened her mouth, but no words would emerge.
“Did you…were you going to say something?” Sammy gave the pup one final pat, then stood upright.
“I…” She rubbed her kapp string between her fingers. She might as well just tell him what was on her mind. “I just wanted to say that I’m sorry you lost your mamm. I know it’s been a while, but we never really get the chance to talk.”
His brow lowered and a thoughtful look crossed his face. “Denki.”
“It must be hard. I can’t imagine losing my mamm.” She pushed down the emotion that threatened, not wanting to make Sammy bluer than he likely already was.
“It was tough at first, but we’ve all managed to find our way. Dat and Zane took it hardest, but Dat has tried to keep it together for the kinner’s sake, I’m sure.”
“What about you? You’re the oldest. You were around her the longest out of the kinner.”
He swallowed. “I miss her, for sure.”
“Sammy, if there’s something…I mean, if you ever want to talk or anything, I’m willing to listen. I want to be a friend.” Ach, she hoped he didn’t find her too bold.
He turned toward her. “About that. I, uh… This is kind of off the subject.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “I wanted to ask you something.”
She puzzled as to what it could be. “Say on.”
“Since your bruder and I aren’t on speaking terms right now… What I mean to ask is, would you like to go for a drive tonight?”
Her heartbeat quickened to double time. He couldn’t be asking to court her. And she certainly wouldn’t assume.
Nee. A man as wunderbaar as Sammy would never have a desire to date her. “A drive? Where?” She squeaked the words out. Perhaps he wanted to show her something else at the feedstore.
“Well, if the singing wasn’t at your house, I’d be asking to take you home.” He latched a thumb behind his suspender.
“But I thought…you don’t have an Englisch maedel?” It sounded forward of her to assume he wanted to court her, but it was what he was asking. Wasn’t it?
He shook his head adamantly. “Nee. We broke up. As a matter of fact, we haven’t dated since before I went to jail.”
Her stomach flip-flopped. Sammy Eicher was genuinely interested in her?
“I told Charlotte we could take her home if she doesn’t have a ride. Then it would be just the two of us on the way back to your place.”
But, what if he was only doing this to prove something to her bruder? The last thing she wanted was to be used as a pawn. “I…I don’t know, Sammy.”
His previous excitement deflated all at once. “Ach, okay, then.” He trained his eyes on the dog now, his disappointment evident.
“Did you…are you wanting to court me for real or does this have something to do with my bruder?”
Confusion momentarily flickered across his face, then vanished. “Is it so hard to believe that I would want to court you for you?” He stepped near and lifted his fingers to touch her cheek. “No, Bertie, this has absolutely nothing to do with your bruder.”
Bertie?
His gaze smoldered and her breath hitched when she saw desire in his eyes. Would Sammy Eicher kiss her right here in the middle of the yard where anyone could step around the corner and see them? He did have a reputation as a risk-taker so…
Sammy’s lips lowered to hers and he pulled her close at the waist with his free hand. His other hand cradled her face as his lips ever so gently explored hers. Ach, she might be in Heaven.
Sammy’s hands roamed her back as he deepened the kiss.
Ach, she hadn’t been expecting that. She’d never had a young man kiss her in this fashion. Was this the way lovers kissed? She wasn’t sure, but she did know one thing. She enjoyed it very much.
A subdued groan rumbled in his throat. “Bertie.”
She forgot everything. That they were at a public youth function. That they were standing in the middle of her yard. That anyone, including her folks, could step around the house at any moment and find them here.
He finally stepped away but flames still ravaged his gaze. “Was that convincing enough, schatzi?” The corner of his mouth twitched.
Sweetheart? She opened her mouth, but no words would emerge. She tugged her bottom lip between her teeth. Ach, she’d been rendered speechless.
“Should I take that as a yes?” His eyebrow shot upward.
Roberta nodded.
“Gut.” He leaned close and his warm breath tickled her ear. “Because I was hoping for more later.”
More? She felt like whimpering, yes, please. Her toes curled at the thought of the two of them being completely alone in his buggy. She wasn’t sure it was such a gut idea, judging by the heart-pounding kiss he’d just bestowed on her.
“It’s too bad we can’t leave now,” he murmured.
A gasp escaped her lips.
“Don’t worry. I can be patient if I have to.” He winked at her, then reached for her hand. “Should we go join a volleyball game now?”
Now that her head was spinning? Now that her body was totally at odds with the equator? Probably not a gut idea. What she needed was a drink of cool water and a place where she could escape to do a few cartwheels. Okay, so maybe not cartwheels when she still felt lightheaded.
Either way, she was quite certain that she had died and gone to Heaven. Or paradise, because was there kissing in Heaven? Or at the least some fantasy world where only she and Sammy and her wildest dreams existed.
Ach du liebe, Sammy Eicher kissed her!
* * *
Truly, Sammy hadn’t planned to kiss Bertie at all this evening. And certainly not like that—in the middle of her folks’ side yard, of all places. What on earth had he been thinking, getting carried away like he had? He’d never win the award for wisest man that ever lived, that was for sure and certain.
But Bertie.
Oh man, the woman was sizzling. When he’d drawn her into his arms, he thought he might just sprout wings and take flight. And the way she’d responded nearly knocked his socks off. He’d be a complete idiot to trust himself alone with her. But, oh, he wanted to.
And he had been worried she wouldn’t agree to a buggy ride.
Life was about to get interesting.